Former PGMOL Head Issues Ruling on Frimpong Penalty Decision in Arsenal vs Liverpool
Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has weighed in on why Liverpool were denied a penalty during their 0-0 draw against Arsenal. The two Premier League heavyweights shared the points at the Emirates, but Liverpool had two penalty appeals turned down.
The most notable incident occurred in the 35th minute when Jeremie Frimpong went down in the box following a challenge from Piero Hincapie. Frimpong appeared to hold his ankle, but referee Anthony Taylor opted not to award a penalty. Initially, contact seemed minimal, but slow-motion replays showed Hincapie’s boot did make contact with the Dutch winger. The decision became a talking point after the stalemate, leaving Arne Slot’s side 14 points behind Mikel Arteta’s table-toppers.
Hackett supported Taylor’s call, noting that it was not a “clear and obvious error.” Speaking to Football Insider, the former Premier League referee said:
“Referee Anthony Taylor was well-positioned, and there wasn’t enough evidence of contact, so play continued. VAR can examine multiple angles to see if a clear and obvious mistake occurred, but there was no recommendation for the referee to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor.”
He added:
“Based on the available evidence, the referee chose the safer option and didn’t intervene.”
Frimpong, filling in for the absent Mohamed Salah at the African Cup of Nations, caused Arsenal problems with his pace, particularly during his run before going down under Hincapie’s challenge.
Liverpool also had another penalty appeal denied in the second half, when Florian Wirtz went down after colliding with Leandro Trossard while attempting to reach a loose ball. Wirtz insisted it was a penalty, and Sky Sports’ Gary Neville described Trossard’s challenge as clumsy, but no spot-kick was awarded, leaving Liverpool to take a point back to Anfield.
Slot’s side was missing several key players, including top scorer Hugo Ekitike. Cody Gakpo led the line, but Liverpool lacked a cutting edge. They came closest through Conor Bradley, whose long-range strike hit the crossbar after a mix-up between Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya and William Saliba. The Reds managed seven attempts in an otherwise tight, low-scoring game.
While Slot was pleased with the performance, he admitted disappointment at not securing all three points. He told Sky Sports:
“Ultimately, I’m a bit disappointed we didn’t win, but it was a solid performance.”
Liverpool now turn their attention to an FA Cup third-round clash with League One side Barnsley at Anfield on Monday, January 12. Bradley is likely to miss the game after suffering a serious injury. Slot will have the chance to rotate his squad, offering rest to key players who have been affected by a recent injury crisis, including Alexander Isak, sidelined with a fractured leg.